Flash-light gas-burner.



No. 735,002. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

D. WARD & J. R. TAYLOR.

FLASH LIGHT GAS BURNER.

APPLIOATION FILED D3019, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented July as, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

DELL WARD AND JOSEPH R. TAYLOR, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

FLASH-LIG HT GAS-BU RN ER.

SPECIFICATION foimiing part of Letters Patent No. 735,002, dated July 28 1903. Application filed De0ember 19, 1902. Serial No. 135,936. (No model.)

To all whmn it ntay concern.-

Be it known that we, DELL WVARD and JosEPH R.TAYLOR,citizens of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Flash-Light Gas-Burner, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatically-operating flash-light gas-burners. of the type which are especially adapted-for illuminating glass signs and for analogous purposes and in which a gas-holder having a movablechamher is provided with an inlet and an outlet and with an automatically-operated valve for controlling the passage of the illuminating gas through the said holder and to the burner, the supply to the burner being intermittently cut off, so as to produce an intermittent ora flash light.

The present invention has for its purpose to provide a valve means for alternately closing the inlet to the gas-holder and the outletpassage from said gas-holder to the burner.

A further object of the invention is to effect the movement necessary to produce this alternate closure in a quick and decisive manner, so that the flashing or alternate light and dark effects may be quick and conspicuous.

\Vith these and other objects in View the invention consists in the improved construe-- tion, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawingrepresenta sectional view of an automaticallyoperating flash-light gas-burner constructed in accordance with our invention.

In carrying out our invention we avail ourselves of an expansible gas-holder, shown in the drawing as consisting of an outer vessell, in which is placed an inner inverted vessel 2, the lower edge of which extends below the surface of the fluid 3, contained in the casing 1, and which serves to form a seal, and which said fluid may consist of water, oil,or any other suitable liquid. A top closure or cover 4 for the outer vessel may be provided, and this when used should be provided with an opening or air-vent 5.

6 designates a gas-inlet, and 7 the gas-outlet, both of which are extended into the casing 1 through the bottom of the latter, both of said pipes being extended above the level of the fluid seal. The inlet-pipe is connected with the source of supply, (not shown in the drawing,) and the outlet carries the illuminating-burner 8. The inlet-pipe has a branch 9, carrying a constantly-burning igniting-burner 10, disposed in such contiguity to the illuminating-burner as to ignite the gas which escapes from the latter intermittently by the organized operation of the device.

In the form'of my invention illustrated in the drawing hereto annexed the outlet-pipe 7' is provided at its inner end with a curved portion 11, extending across the inner end of the inlet-pipe 6. .A lever 12, pivotally connected with the pipe 7, carries Valves 13 and 14,'disposed on opposite sides thereof and adapted to engage the openings of the inletpipe 6 and outlet-pipe 7, respectively, the openings of said pipes being constructed so as to form seats for the said valves. It will be seen that the openings of the inlet and outlet pipes being disposed but a short distance apart, only alimited movement of.the lever 12 will be required to change the positions of the valves, so as to open the inlet and close the outlet, or vice versa. It will further be seen that the lever 12 being pivotally connected with the outlet-pipe, the weight of said lever will be exerted upon the valve which forms the closure of the gas-inlet.

For the purpose of automatically operating the lever the tube 15 is provided, said tube beingmounted pivotally within the casing, preferably upon the arched or bent portion 11 at the upper end of the outlet-pipe,

as shown in the drawing, the pivotal connection being effected in thepresent instance by a pin 16, engaging lugs or ears 1'7 and 18 upon the arch 11 and tube 15, respectively. Said tube, which thus constitutes a rocking element, contains a ball or rolling weight, which when the said tube is tilted slightly past the horizontal will roll in a downward direction toward either end.

The tube or rocking element is provided at one end with a depending guide 20, havinga slot 21, through which the end of the valvecarrying lever 12 extends. The opposite end of the said tube 15 has an arm 24, adapted to be engaged by either one of two projections or flanges 22 and 23, secured to the side of the bell 2, as will be seen in the drawing.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. In said drawing the valve 13 engages and closes the gas-inlet, the lever 12 being retained in position by the weight 19 of the rocking element 15, which is tilted to such a position as to cause the slotted guide 20 to press downward upon the upper side of said lever. The gas contained in the bell 2 will escape through the outlet 7 to the illuminating-burner, the bell descending by its own weight until the projection 22 engages the arm 24 of the rocking element 15, gradually tilting the latter until slightly past the horizontal, when the rolling weight 19 will pass swiftly to the opposite end of the tube, completely reversing the position of the latter and causing the slotted guide 20 to engage the under side of the valvecarrying lever 12, which is thereby vibrated upon its pivot, disengaging the valve 13 from the gas-inlet and causing the valve 14 to close the outlet. The flame of the illuminating-burner is thus extinguished, the supply being cut off, and gas will enter the holder through the inlet 6. The expansive force of the gas will cause the bell 2 to rise until the projection 23 engages the arm 24 of the rocking element, the position of which is now again reversed, closing the gas-inlet and opening the outlet, causing the flame of the illuminating-burner to be reignited and checking the inlet of gas into the holder until the contents thereof has been consumed and the bell descended sufficiently to again cause a reversal of the position of the rocking element and the valve operated thereby.

The construction of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing is, as will be seen, an extremely simple one, and one, moreover, which is susceptible of modifications in many directions without interfering with the successful operation thereof. We

desire it to be understood, therefore, that we do not limit ourselves to the structural details herein described,but reserve to ourselves the right to any changes, alterations,and modifications which may be resorted to without de- 1. In a deviceof the class described, a gasholder, an inlet, an outlet, a lever carrying valves to alternately close said inlet and outlet, a pivotally-mounted tubular rocking element, a movable weight, consisting of a ball within said rocking tube, means for intermittently operating the latter, and connecting means between said rocking tube and the valve-carrying lever.

2. In a device of the class described, a gasholder,an inlet,an 0utlet,a leverhavingvalves alternately engaging said inlet and outlet, a rocking element having a slotted member ongaging said lever, and a vertically-movable bell forming an element ofthe gas-holder, and having means for operating the rocking element.

3. In a device of the class described, a gasholder having a vertically-movable bell, an inlet, an outlet, alever having valves adapted to alternately close said inlet and outlet, a rocking element having a movable weight, connecting means between said rocking element and the valve-carrying lever, and means upon the vertically-movable bell for operating said rocking element.

4. In a device of the class described, a gasholder, an inlet, an outlet provided with an arched portion extending above the inlet, a lever pivoted to the outlet-pipe and having valves alternately engaging the openings of the latter and of the inlet-pipe, a rocking element mounted upon the arched portion of the outlet-pipe and having a slotted member en gaging the valve-carrying lever, and an arm projecting at the opposite end thereof, and a vertically-movable bell forming an element of the gas-holder and carrying means for engaging the projectingarm of the rocking element.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affiXedour signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

DELL WARD.

J. R. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

EUGENE LIVINGSTON, E. J. SLEMoNs. 

